Types of Jobs in the Plastics Industry

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Employees in plastics processing are involved with the manufacture of plastics products, tend the various types of processing machinery, carry out various post production assembly and quality assurance operations, and pack products for despatch to customers.

There is no specific educational pre-requisite for employment in plastics processing. Subsequent employment for skilled employees can include more technical aspects of production such as setting up of dies for new product runs, and shift supervision. Processing employees who show the necessary aptitude can also move into plastics technology or engineering apprenticeships. There are now National Certificates on the National Qualifications Framework available to plastics processing employees.

Apprentices in plastics technology and plastics engineering become trades people who maintain processing and associated machinery. They also service machinery when a production run ends and various changes are needed to commence another. They make and maintain the dies used to make plastic products. A plastics apprentice completes a Level 4 National Certificate in Plastics Processing Technology or Plastics Engineering. Each takes about four years to gain.

The industry has a collective employment contract, to which most employers subscribe. It provides for a skills-based pay system under which employees have the opportunity to learn relative industry skills and receive appropriate pay as recognition.

The industry has its own Plastics and Materials Processing Industry Training Organisation (PAMPITO). The ITO sets the standards for plastics training and qualifications, and arranges for delivery of training and assessment across the country.